I can breath again! Why? Because, I quit smoking. Now you can quit smoking too and start breathing instead. Don’t give me those tired old lines, “I’m to old to quite.” Or “I’ve been smoking so long, there is no point in stopping now.” Or the worst one ever, “I’ve tried to stop smoking before, but it’s too hard.” All of them are bull, and you know it.

Then there was young David, nicknamed Hyper by his buddies due to his non-stop zest and enthusiasm for life. At 32 years old, this chain smoker became riddled with lung cancer. David was married and had twin girls whom he adored. Another sad and unnecessary loss! Are you Still Dying for a Cigarette?

If you’ve decided to stop smoking, part of the mental battle is overcoming the impulse to nibble, snack and eat more food overall. Overeating is a typical reaction when it comes to the stress you experience during the purging of the toxins created by tobacco.

Putting down that last cigarette and deciding to quit smoking takes a lot of courage, and I would like to congratulate you for the best decision you could ever make in your life. If you haven’t quit yet, I want to let you know that it is quite normal to be having fears of quitting.

BMA Scotland welcomed the publication of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill. Doctors are pleased that the Bill seeks to help reduce the devastating impact of tobacco on Scotland and protects NHS general practice by keeping patient care before profit.

When it comes to quitting smoking, there’s no time like the present. The sooner you quit smoking and let your body heal, the sooner you’ll reclaim your health, energy and quality of life. You just need a little preparation.